Endless Becomings: Explorations in Contemporary Art

Aylin Abbasi, Annie Bérubé, Armand Diansambu, Elaine Diguer, Sophie El-Assaad, Emily Escoffery, Lea Hamilton, Sarah Hughes, Éric Mailloux, Shiva Nasiri, Leigha Stiles 

Endless Becomings brings together eleven visionary artists who are shaping the future of contemporary art. Spanning generations, disciplines and cultural perspectives, these artists are united by a commitment to continuous transformation. They assert their identities, construct new ways of looking and making and keep growing as artists. As a group, they are rooted in dialogue, introspection and a persistent search for connection with the world around them.  

These works embody both personal and collective histories of remembrance, resistance, displacement, exploration, care and transformation. Through their practices, these artists take unconventional approaches to processes of change, continually pushing new boundaries. 

This dynamic exhibition features work by the two most recent cohorts of the University of Ottawa’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program. Presented in partnership with the University of Ottawa’s Department of Visual Arts and the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), this collaboration has, for over fourteen years, fostered meaningful connections between emerging artists, curators and the local arts community.

Curators: Elisa Jiménez Robles, Shems Benmosbah
Curatorial Assistance: Rebecca Basciano, Meghan Ho
Editing: Véronique Couillard, Matt Harrison
French Translation: Marie-Camille Lalande
Graphic Design: Leah Ross, Mathieu Kirchmayer
Installation: Stephanie Germano, Dan Austin, Rob Keefe, Mark Garland, Neil Hossak 

The Ottawa Art Gallery would like to recognize RBC Foundation’s support of OAG’s Connect: Artist Mentorship Program and also acknowledge the support of the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts